TUESDAY, 7:10am: Though it seems Nishioka wants to be posted, the Marines haven't committed to it, based on quotes from a team official passed along by Jason Coskrey of the Japan Times. The player will make a formal request tomorrow and the team will decide after talking to him. For an excellent profile of Nishioka, check out Patrick Newman's latest at FanGraphs.
MONDAY, 7:47pm: The Chiba Lotte Marines are posting the Pacific League’s most recent batting champion, according to Tim Kurkjian of ESPN The Magazine. The Marines are posting Tsuyoshi Nishioka this week and teams in the market for middle infielders will surely take notice; the 26-year-old switch hitter can play second and short.
Nishioka batted .346 with 22 steals and more hits (206) than any Pacific Leaguer since Ichiro Suzuki. ESPN analyst Bobby Valentine, who managed Nishioka in Japan, says he thinks the infielder has the tools to be “an outstanding shortstop,” but suggests most organizations will consider him a second baseman.
Teams will soon be able to place bids for Nishioka through a blind auction. The organization with the winning bid will have 30 days of exclusive negotiating rights to reach a deal.
The free agent market for second basemen and shortstops is relatively thin and the trade market offers few alternatives. It appears that Japanese shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima will not be posted, though he hasn't given up on playing in the major leagues in 2011.
cardinals—take notice!!!! no more aaron miles, skip schumaker’s, adam kennedy’s, and david ecksteins! please! no more low hanging fruit
The Cards don’t really have a Japanese culture nor history about the team. Also, from what I gather, their presence in the Asia talent pool is minimal. But they certainly could and should be looking in Japan for some middle infield help.
How’s So Taguchi’s relationship with the front office?
so taguchi? he was pretty good for us, fan favorite for sure. also, me personally, i hope we let westbrook go and go after kuroda(and its not just recently to draw this guy closer to STL, i’ve wanted Kuroda working with duncan for a while).
I’m thinking he was actually asking that is jest…almost a “So Taguchi want to come back as an interpretor/special coach?”
I’ll take Westbrook. He’s got a personality that seemed to mesh with Carp and Waino (just judging from the sidelines of course), along with a healthy respect for Duncan, and a short – but successful – first run for the Cards. That’s a lot going for you.
Nothing against Kuroda of course. I think he would succeed as well. If the Cards can swing a salary dump: Lohse for Figgins (not straight up of course)…
The A’s have to get him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pennington and Ellis are fine. atleast they bring something to the table unlike aaron miles and skip schumaker(they don’t get their names capitalized because they aren’t important).
You mean Brendan Ryan and Skip? Thing is, I think the A’s would have more of an incentive to bid the highest for him.
no, i meant aaron miles and skip. Ryan atleast brings gold glove defense and speed to the table. Skip, Miles, Lopez when he was here, all these guys are basically replacement level players that bring little to nothing to the table.
Well Tsuyoshi isn’t a replacement. He is an everyday player. I think the Cards would ne more comfortable Hudson/Ryan and the A’s would be better tsuyoshi/Ellis
explain your logic. i didn’t call Tsuyoshi a replacement player, i called Skip, Miles, Lopez, etc replacement players and non deserving of a starting job. Which in my senario, Ryan would start SS and Tsuyoshi play 2B
That’s what I meant. Don’t know what I meant in what I said before. I just really hope that this guy gets a nickname because my phone’s keyboard isn’t behaving!
Just call him Yoshi. Unfortunately, though, I don’t think he’s green or a dinosaur.
I like it. But I want proof that he isn’t a green dinosaur.
Yoshi is also a Japanese name, I have an cousin named Yoshi. Tsuyoshi means strong its based on the word Tsuyoku which is the adjective for strong. Anyone remember Tsuyoshi Shinjo on the Mets?
I like you. please commment more. Seriously.
I like you. please commment more. Seriously.
If he signs with the Rockies, it will be to reunite him with his long lost brother Dinger.
Perfect
I like it. But I want proof that he isn’t a green dinosaur.
Just call him Yoshi. Unfortunately, though, I don’t think he’s green or a dinosaur.
explain your logic. i didn’t call Tsuyoshi a replacement player, i called Skip, Miles, Lopez, etc replacement players and non deserving of a starting job. Which in my senario, Ryan would start SS and Tsuyoshi play 2B
Well Tsuyoshi isn’t a replacement. He is an everyday player. I think the Cards would ne more comfortable Hudson/Ryan and the A’s would be better tsuyoshi/Ellis
Agreed. They already committed to Ellis for 2011 and Pennington is a solid, albeit unspectacular option at shortstop.
Agreed, this appears to be a good chance to fill a position of need. But Mo is probably too busy talking to Miles, Suppan, and Randy Winn about returning next season.
Repeat after me…the Cards have no money. Not after Holliday, Pujols, Carpenter and Wainwright get paid.
Let the Yankees need a SS after Jeter retires crap begin. The Braves fans will probably get involved in the Braves need a SS also. Possibly the Twins. And anyone else that needs a SS.
Don’t think the Yanks are in on this one. Cano and Jeter will be around for several years and they’d be better off *gasp* saving the money and spending on draft picks.
Braves have a few promising minor leaguers already and short-term help at the majors currently if I’m not mistaken.
How high is the bidding expected to get for him? The Dodgers could use him as Theriot’s replacement and he could play short if/when Furcal gets hurt.
In my opinion, it possibly can hit $25+ million, but you never know. Dice-K posting fee hit over $50 million.
No chance anyone is paying 25 million just for a posting fee.
The Athletics just dropped $17MM for a projected #4 starter. IT could and probably will get to 25.
Ya you’re right I just noticed that the posting fee for Iwakuma was that high. I am just kind of amazed at these posting fees considering how dicey (bing) some of these Japanese players have been.
They tend to be pretty good for a season and then just sorta fizzle out.
Only if they sign the guy. If not they pay zero, and he gets thrown back into the pool for the next year. There are a few people out there that think the A’s may have bid high to block SEA and TEX.
Seattle makes sense…
Seattle always makes some sense for the Pacific talent pool. Ichiro is a pretty big natural draw. Apparently he’s good.And on top of that, the M’s could use a quality SS.
Except that he’s a leadoff type. Which Ichiro and Figgins pretty much have on lock. At second thought, I think Seattle would be better off spending their money on power hitting.
nothing wrong with having a guy that gets a lot of hits batting 3rd and driving in Ichiro from second and then Gutierrez hitting him in, nothing wrong at all.
Certainly, nothing wrong with it. Just different I suppose. Small ball in the AL. No one on the team capable of hitting 30+ HR’s? 20+ might be a stretch. I don’t think I have to remind you that Russell Branyon (!) led the 2010 squad with 15…
I don’t want to place too much stock in HR’s, but really, they are worth something.
OBP is worth more. The dude gets on base at a good clip. Gimme a guy who gets on at a .380 clip over someone who gets on at .340 but “hits dingers”
Respectfully, I disagree.
I’ll take Corey Hart over Brett Gardner.
Home runs are good, but 6 of the 8 playoff teams didn’t even have 165 home runs. That proves that you don’t need home runs to make the playoffs. Giants also proved that you don’t need good hitting to win a World Series, you need pitching. That makes you and Anthony wrong. Toronto also proved that you can hit all the home runs in the world, and still not make the playoffs. Their pitching was one of the worse in all of baseball.
That’s why I would take pitching over OBP and home runs.
Jays pitching was one of the world in baseball? If by that you mean one of the brightest and best young rotations in baseball then you are 100% correct.
You can include the A’s in that comment of best young rotation.
You can include the A’s in that comment of best young rotation.
Certainly, nothing wrong with it. Just different I suppose. Small ball in the AL. No one on the team capable of hitting 30+ HR’s? 20+ might be a stretch. I don’t think I have to remind you that Russell Branyon (!) led the 2010 squad with 15…
I don’t want to place too much stock in HR’s, but really, they are worth something.
You beat me to it, Seattle makes all the sense in the world, especially when Jose Lopez gets non-tendered this guy can easily be our 2nd baseman and they can put Figgins back at third.
seattle, i agree, although if you think they are going to give him the leadoff or second job in any respectable organization off the bat, you would be crazy, i predict 7th in the order then he moves on up when he is used to american pitching and i would even put him at short, depending on where Ackley ends up
I said in a different post i would put him third since he has a good bat, and Ackley is honestly a few years away, he is adjusting well though and could be a September call up, but i would put him at a good two years away and he is a 2nd baseman, so this guy could slide to SS, when they are done with Jack Wilson.
DEFINITELY!
I hope the Giants post on this guy not only are we looking for a shortstop but we want an athletic shortstop that can hit and get on base. Wow at first I wanted Uggla but this guy’s younger and he fits our park a whole lot better. If Freddy Sanchez leaves in 2012 Nishioka can take over 2nd works out perfectly!
Yeah the Giants are probably the only team looking for an athletic shortstop who can hit and get on base.
I lol’d ^^
Yes I realize the irony of my statement but if I were to choose between a Juan Uribe or this guy for next year’s team and beyond this would be the guy…
Uribe at ~$5M or Nishioka for 4-5x that in posting fees alone plus his contract? I don’t know that you’ve got an absolute statement on your hands there.
Well you basically fill 2 holes with Nishioka if you’re thinking long term. Cause that means if Giants don’t resign Sanchez in the offseason in 2012 you’ve got yourself a viable replacement for the future at either SS and 2B. While Uribe’s power is definitely a commodity at the SS position Nishioka’s represents what the Giants are trying to do which is stress defense and speed. If he produces a .290-.300 average gets on base he’s a spark plug at the top of the order that can help win some ball games. Not too mention he’ll be able to draw Japanese endorsements and all that. But then again using a posting fee on an unproven player in the Major Leagues is a big roll of the dice.
I think you’re forgetting about Culberson.
No I didn’t Nishioka can fill in SS OR 2B. Which means you wouldn’t have to worry about one position or the other. Culberson, Noonan, Crawford can fill the position that isn’t vacant. Plus two of those three can be trade bait to lure another position hitter in the future. I like Culberson but let’s see what he does in AA before we consider him top prospect stuff.
I forgot why I said that.
I forgot why I said that.
Uribe at ~$5M or Nishioka for 4-5x that in posting fees alone plus his contract? I don’t know that you’ve got an absolute statement on your hands there.
they were already rumored to be interested though.
I dunno man. The Giants are 0-1 so far on players named Tsuyoshi.
hey, i saw shinjo hit a HR…once. LOL. that guy could really run though.
I think he would be a good fit for a lot of teams, but i don’t have the sarcasm that some others have.
Sure there are a lot of team that would love an athletic SS that gets on base, but there are not many teams that have openings at SS or teams that can afford to go through this posting process.
Coming off of the WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP, the Giants should have enough money to post on this guy. If they feel he can be a MLB middle infielder and play at least 1 full season at SS, they should go after him. We could use someone that could play everyday, be a solid defender and put the ball in play. The Giants need more speed and more OBP, especially from SS. The power could be added elsewhere.
If this guy is everything he is hyped up to be, he fits the needs AND the current situation for the Giants. Not many teams with holes at SS and potential holes at 2B in 2012.
mariners—take notice!!!! no more jack wilsons, pokey reeses, wilson valdezes, and josh wilsons! please! no more dried up rotten fruit from the ground
you forgot Jose Lopez
you forgot Jose Lopez
This is a player that is young enough that the M’s can build around him for the close to the next decade!
Not sure what this would do for Nick Franklin’s status/future….
Pokey Reese is God
Jose Lopez is the name of my God…ener
I meant gardener
This is a player that is young enough that the M’s can build around him for the close to the next decade!
Not sure what this would do for Nick Franklin’s status/future….
26, don’t often see guys posted that young, and the current batting champ…I’d imagine they’ll be looking for a pretty huge fee.
Don’t be surprised to see the Pirates put in the winning bid. This will allow them to fill the void of Cedeno up the middle. This would be a nice opportunity for them to acquire a nice talent. If they are able to acquire him, pitching can command the remainder of the off season with a couple mediocre acquisitions that, lets face it, are already better than 3/5 of the rotation.
I was thinking the same thing. I hope they at least think about getting this guy, hopefully he’s better than the last Japanese player they acquired.
I would rather take a chance here, with a younger talent that fits our team, than with Beltre. The Beltre rumor is just that, a rumor started to keep some people on their toes.
The Pirates need a lot. Nishioka would certainly help, but they might be better off spending the money elsewhere. For 10-15 million they could sign several big Latin prospects (a region where Pittsburgh’s talent scouts are much more active as well).
Our help is finally within the system. We have some great talent that I project to ALL be together for a couple years around 2013-2015. If things go well and management can control the exceptional young talent, we can possibly see the new Tampa Bay Rays of the NL. For our sake, and baseballs sake, I hope so.
Don’t really see the pirates doing this with sano waiting, this guy is going to be marketed as a franchise shortstop, not a stopgap, and will be payed like one
Sano is 17(or 18). He is at least 4-5 years away from the big leagues. By then Nishioka can have gained tons of value and we can get some top line prospects for him.
Actually, Im drunk, we didnt even sign Sano. My fault, I dont know where my head is at.
I was gonna say… I hate to break the news, because I kinda like the Pirates… but the Twins signed Miguel, haha
I was gonna say… I hate to break the news, because I kinda like the Pirates… but the Twins signed Miguel, haha
Nishioka is just as likely to be the next Kei Igawa and will have no value and you couldn’t give him away. Success in Japan does not translate to success in MLB. Ichiro is the exception, not the rule.
1. The Twins signed Miguel Sano.
2. Even if a team with an elite SS prospect signs Yoshi, the article clearly says many teams view him as a second baseman.
3. Franchise shortstop? Based on what? The guy’s not Hanley Ramirez or Troy Tulowitzki here. The guy had a .287/.361/.427 career line entering 2010.
lol jeez yah wow can’t believe i messed that up, i guess its cause they had EVERY CHANCE TO SIGN HIM that i supposed he would hahaha
I partially disagree. I think they have very good offensive talent. But outside of Tailon, I’m not sure that they have the impact pitching. Granted, I’m not as familar with their minor league system as much. But they have pretty close to nothing at the big league level that I would trust and build around.
Jameson Taillon, RHP
Stetson Allie, RHP
Luis Heredia, RHP
Rudy Owens, LHP
Brad Lincoln, RHP
Bryan Morris, RHP
Jeff Locke, LHP
Diego Moreno, RHP
Colton Cain, LHP
Zack Von Rosenberg, RHP
—- This is a list of the top pitching prospects spread throughout the system. Lets be serious, at least 3-4 of them will turn out to be quality pitchers with most likely 1-2 being front of rotation pitchers.
—- The pirates offense is weak. We are top heavy 1-4, possibly 5. There is no balance or consistency. That said, the top of the lineup is VERY young. They will grow and become more consistent. This is why adding this young talented short stop could add to that growth, or it might not work out. It is worth a try for this organization. Next year, we will have the #1 pick in the draft. If Rendon has another stellar year, welcome to Pittsburgh my man. We will see you in 2012-2013.
——
Our help is finally within the system. We have some great talent that I project to ALL be together for a couple years around 2013-2015. If things go well and management can control the exceptional young talent, we can possibly see the new Tampa Bay Rays of the NL. For our sake, and baseballs sake, I hope so.
How does the bid on this sort of thing work? Does the winning bid just hand over the money in exchange for the 30 days of exclusive negotiation, whether or not they end up signing him? Or does the bid only go to the player in the event that the team reaches an agreement? And if they do come to an agreement, does the bid become part of the contract, or is it in addition to the contract?EDIT: Nevermind, the bid obviously goes to the team, not the player. First question still stands, though.
The team with the winning bid only has to give up the money if they sign the player. That’s why some Japanese clubs don’t take the biggest bid if they think another club is more likely to actually complete the signing.
They only pay the money if they end up signing the player. If no agreement is reached, the MLB team keeps their posting fee.
Goodbye Jeter.
…All sarcasm aside, this is a boost to the SS market. I think the Giants, Cardinals, and Mariners all make sense. Heck, even the A’s could get involved and trade one of their excess infielders.
i’m not sure if i completely understand this whole process. someone correct me if i mess up. so a team has to first win a auction to even negotiate with the player? the money from the auction goes to the player’s parent team and then the mlb team would have to pay an extra charge for the japanese player’s contract? am i close or way off.
This is basically what I was asking a couple comments up. Anybody enlighten us?
Go to wikipedia and search… Posting system, this will help you
The bidding amount goes to the players current team for the right for the MLB team to negotiate a contract with the player. If a contract is not reached they do not pay the bidding fee.
The bidding amount goes to the players current team for the right for the MLB team to negotiate a contract with the player. If a contract is not reached they do not pay the bidding fee.
This will help you understand the “posting system”
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posting_system
The way I understand it, the blind auction goes to the highest bidder, the Japanese team can accept or decline the offer. The MLB team then has 30 days to negotiate a contract with the Japanese player, if they do work out a deal, he comes here with that contract and his former club gets the cash, if they do not work out a deal, he goes back to his Japanese team and no money is exchanged.
The way I understand it, the blind auction goes to the highest bidder, the Japanese team can accept or decline the offer. The MLB team then has 30 days to negotiate a contract with the Japanese player, if they do work out a deal, he comes here with that contract and his former club gets the cash, if they do not work out a deal, he goes back to his Japanese team and no money is exchanged.
How about Boston gets him and he becomes their SS and they trade Iglesias? lol just a thought because they have been throwing horrible trade rumors out there and only one that would make sense is if they included Iglesias, so if they got this guy who has a good bat and traded Iglesias for say a power hitting first baseman, this could happen.
The Red Sox haven’t been throwing horrible trade offers out there, fans who know nothing about baseball are starting the terrible trade offers.
Being a boston native, this seams counter-productive with someone of Iglesias hype, plus we have 2 fallbacks/future traidbaits in the 2 ss’s we drafted this year in the 2nd and 3rd round i believe???.. around there, besides we would have to move scutaro as well, too expensive and good to be utility, thats lowries job most likely
Scutaro is one more year and done, and drafts do not always pan out, whats the saying with chickens before they hatch? at any rate this guy probably requested his team do this because he has dreams of playing in the MLB and his team probably reluctantly obliged, his agent isnt Scott Boras so any comparisons with Ichiro should be taken a little serious and we all know Boston wants Adrian Gonzalez and San Diego will want Iglesias, so unless this Japanese guys glove has holes in it Boston could essentially have their cake and eat it too.
Yeah….thats what i meant…i didnt hear it from Theo thats for sure way to go dude.
The Red Sox haven’t been throwing horrible trade offers out there, fans who know nothing about baseball are starting the terrible trade offers.
How about Boston gets him and he becomes their SS and they trade Iglesias? lol just a thought because they have been throwing horrible trade rumors out there and only one that would make sense is if they included Iglesias, so if they got this guy who has a good bat and traded Iglesias for say a power hitting first baseman, this could happen.
Seattle make this happen.
Seattle make this happen.
If the A’s posted 17 million for Hisashi Iwakuma the Marines asking price might be a little more…
eh, not really. Hishashi had more of a track record of success. A quick glance at Tsuyoshi’s stats show that 2010 was a bit of a career year and teams might be a bit weary of offering big money to a guy they might be buying high on. Still, better option that just abot every shortstop on the market right now.
SS and 2B are not a commodity 2011 FA market which means the posting fee will be some where in the 15-18 million dollar range I would think…which is crazy when you think about it because thats one year of Carl Crawford or Jason Werth. When you factor in attendance that Tsuyoshi will be able to attract plus Japanese endorsements and the fact he is relatively young its a worthwhile investment for any team.
Tsuyoshi is not that popular in Japan hes only played 3 seasons there for the relatively unpopular Chiba Lotte Marines
Could always be worse.
Tsuyoshi is not that popular in Japan hes only played 3 seasons there for the relatively unpopular Chiba Lotte Marines
Guess the Yankees can part ways with Jeter now; save some money, plus have a guy who can make plays up the middle.
hope this is sarcasm, most likely greed though, as Franchise SS with rings vs. unproven 26 year old japanese player, jeter always wins, besides yanks won’t go down japanese road unless its a Yu Darvish kind-of-player, they rolled the dice before “igawa” and look now, would be a terrible mistake to part with jeter for this guy
I love how Kei Igawa has all New York fans completly turned off on all Japanese players, anytime a layer comes along they automatically go not another Kei Igawa!!
The Orioles were interested in Nakajima, so it would make sense they would pursue Nishioka as well…
Call me crazy, but I like Nishioka ability to hit over .250 which I doubt Jeter will be capable of doing anymore – plus swiping bases.
Call me crazy, but I like Nishioka ability to hit over .250 which I doubt Jeter will be capable of doing anymore – plus swiping bases.
Let’s see Cesar Izturis or a guy who led his nation in Hits (206), Runs (121), Total Bases (287), & Batting Average (346) in 596 At Bats. He also had 32 Doubles, 8 Triples, 11 HR’s, 59 RBI, 22 Stolen Bases, .423 OBP, .482 SLG, .905 OPS.
or Cesar’s .545 OPS hmm…. .360 point differential.
The O’s are meant for this guy. Him or Nakajima if he’s ever posted.
From de Marines to the M´s I´m sure
Aaron Hill meet third base, third base, aaron hill..
My thoughts exactly, this could shore up their infield defence, Hill will be a plus guy at 3rd, and by the sounds of it Nishioka can be a plus guy at 2nd. As well add a top of the order presence that the Jays need. Escobar could be a solid #1 or #2 hitter but they need somone else up there. A little more risky than going after a guy like Hudson, but could be a move Antholpolous would do.
I think the Orioles would make a lot of sense. They have one japanese player in their bullpen now, and the DC-Baltimore Metro area has a fair bit of Asian culture–perhaps not as much as Seattle.
They desperately need a shortstop, as well as someone who can bat in the 2 or 3 hole in the lineup. They don’t have any SS prospects in the system except for this years draft pick Machado who is several years away.
So, is this article indicating he is THE top infielder in Japan or just one of the top?
Seattle all the way. They trade Jose Lopez to Colorado or LAA mid season when this Japs ready. He learns from Ichiro for a year and than they make Ichiro expendable and could get a bluechip pitching and hitting prospect.
They can even sign Matsui. Truth is Matsuis contract would basically pay for itself by all the publicity and money they make from the Japanese community. To have ichiro and Matsui on the same team would get Seattle sponsored by so many Jap Corps. They would probably profit money from the advertisements they could have with that duo. Plus this new young gun when hes ready.
First, they will never trade Ichiro, second you cant say they will trade Ichiro and then talk about all the money they would make by having Matsui AND Ichiro who you said they were trading on the same team, and third, Ichiro had pushed hard for the Mariners to outbid the Yankees for Matsui because he personally knew who he was and what he could do and the Mariners told him to let them run the franchise and it almost made Ichiro request a trade.
your crazy if you dont think ichiro will be traded. Hes got 2 more years in seattle.
I clearly said the young guy learns from Ichiro for a year. Matsui and Ichiro on the same team for a year would generate a substantial amount of money in advertisements and Japanese sponsorships. And it would be a great way for that young kid to learn the transition of pitching.
Idk where you ever heard of this ichiro pushing matsui idea. Im not calling it false but give me a reference.
Boston wins the bidding then packages the rights to negotiate and DiceK to the M’s for enough studs to satisfy the Pad’s for AGon…
Even if Boston has to sweeten the offer a little, (no blue chip prospects). the M’s could print money with the ads to Japan and Boston essentially buys AGon but is able to skirt the cash trade rules…
I would say sweeten the offer alot. You think the M’s would rather give up prospects for a decent pitcher and an unkown shortstop plus take on all that salary when they could just trade said prospects to the Padres for Agon and would be able to sign him to an extension for the money they would be paying DiceK and Nishioka. Doesn’t make sense at all.
Well the 20 mil or so it’d take to win the negotiation rights is worth 4 or 5 decent international prospects as they are getting signing bonuses of 3 to 6 mill. All what money on a decent pitcher, 10 mill? Not really that bad for a number 4 or 5 starter. Add those 2 high profile Japanese players to the one they have and it’d likely generate significant revenues from that region for the M’s. There are business considerations here, it isn’t just a game…
I understand your initial reaction but you can’t discount 20 mill that easily nor that Dice K though not living up to a 50 mil posting, isn’t a “Bad” pitcher and will likely do quite well anywhere else the expectations isn’t that of an ace.
So in answer to your question, I do think they are uniquely positioned to be interested in swapping some high prospects for such a package. This is assuming they don’t just spend the $20 or so mill it would take to win the negotiation rights.
I said to take on the salaries for an unkown shortstop and a decent pitcher. 10 mil for DiceK isn’t “bad” but I don’t think the M’s are in a position to take on that plus probably another ~8-10 mil for Nishioka, while giving up enough of their future to land Agon. That’s almost 20 mil per for a #4 starter and a 26 year old unknown shortstop.
Basically you are implying that the rights to negotiate with Nishioka and paying is contract(not going to be cheap) and taking DiceK (not cheap) is equal to Agonz value. Which I just don’t see at all. Maybe I’m wrong and the Asian influence is more important to Seattle than I can see. To me it just seems way off.
That’s cool, every fan overvalues their local players, that is why I post sometimes just to see if it has any traction, your thoughts are certainly not unreasonable. And it’s nice to have “civil” banter!
It is an interesting thought though, the trading the rights to negotiate. I had never really thought of that, and of course money rules all. So in some way, shape, or form it’s probably something to keep an eye on.
As I see it, it would be DiceK for some of the M’s top prospects. Considering they could essentially win the auction with what they would owe to DiceK. To me not a move the M’s would be interested in, no matter where DiceK is from.
Well the 20 mil or so it’d take to win the negotiation rights is worth 4 or 5 decent international prospects as they are getting signing bonuses of 3 to 6 mill. All what money on a decent pitcher, 10 mill? Not really that bad for a number 4 or 5 starter. Add those 2 high profile Japanese players to the one they have and it’d likely generate significant revenues from that region for the M’s. There are business considerations here, it isn’t just a game…
I understand your initial reaction but you can’t discount 20 mill that easily nor that Dice K though not living up to a 50 mil posting, isn’t a “Bad” pitcher and will likely do quite well anywhere else the expectations isn’t that of an ace.
So in answer to your question, I do think they are uniquely positioned to be interested in swapping some high prospects for such a package. This is assuming they don’t just spend the $20 or so mill it would take to win the negotiation rights.
I would say sweeten the offer alot. You think the M’s would rather give up prospects for a decent pitcher and an unkown shortstop plus take on all that salary when they could just trade said prospects to the Padres for Agon and would be able to sign him to an extension for the money they would be paying DiceK and Nishioka. Doesn’t make sense at all.
Remember when Kaz Matsui was supposed to be the next Ichiro? Remember when Kosuke Fukudome was supposed to be a slightly less powerful Brian Giles when he was in his prime? I think the best bust Japanese bust to come over is the Yankees Kei Igawa. Couldn’t have happened to a better team. 26 mil down the drain with that guy.
I saw him play a couple of years back in a game against the Seibu Lions, I’ve liked him quite a lot since then but I don’t see him repeating his fantastic performance from this year. Nonetheless I’d love to see him give MLB a try. Despite the fact that the Chiba Lotte Marines are my favourite team.
Its all about who thinks he is the real deal. The Posting Fee alone will likely be in the low to mid 20 million’s. He is 26 and is their best player. The ML Team that gets him will expect to get the production immediately. I think that a posting fee of 23 Million and a salary somewhere around 5 years 25 million. So you are really paying 5 years 48 million. Thats a lot of money. I dont know if there are going to be tons of teams to throw that kind of money out there.
Look at the recent “huge” names to come from Japan. Dice-K’s deal was not worth it. Fukudome’s deal was not worth it. The last one that really worked was Matsui’s deal, but he was possibly the best player in Japan’s history.